By Idarus Pajobo

Arua

The stake holders in Arua city have raised mixed up reactions over the Proposal by the government to amend the constitution and provide for the Position of an Assistant deputy speaker of parliament to assist the Speaker and her deputy. 

The revelations were made by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao while responding to some of the queries from legislators.
Asega Habib Jogo the NUP northern regional coordinator noted that, this if taken to action would enable parliament activities as proposed some time back by the oppositions.

“Actually this point was raised by the opposition, when the then Speaker Jacob Oulanya died, Parliament work paralyzed, because the deputy speaker could not handle certain issues in the office of the speaker and parliament stagnated for two weeks. If we had this position, things would move,” said Jogo

On the other hand, Feni Twaib, the CEO West Nile Regional Civil Society Network (WSCNET) termed the proposal as expensive for the country. “I think in regards to that proposal, its uncalled for because, we have a very big parliament with over 520 members whom we pay whether they work or not.

These people will be paid highly, these people have very high privileges that the public is going to shoulder, we are already burdened, public service is already blown off, and public expenditure on these people is already a lot. To me we should just reject it,” Feni explained. 

Similarly, Bayo Bob a phycologist by profession strongly condemned this move, “this proposal is useless and redundant since the Parliament is clogged, the average Uganda cannot even see its importance, we have a large number in there already, if the speakers are not there, let Parliament go on leave as a country we will lose nothing” said Bob.

According to inside sources, this office will be designated with the responsibility of presiding over not very major business in the house and be present when the two current speakers are out of office.

COVER PHOTO: Parliament of Uganda(Courtesy Photo)  By Idarus Pajobo